US seen as 'rogue superpower' as Trump's abrupt U-turn irks allies: expert [View all]

By Nicole Charky-Chami
Published May 7, 2026 3:09 PM ET

President Donald Trump's sudden change of policy on reopening the Strait of Hormuz has angered Gulf allies and changed how they view the United States amid the Iran war, an expert said on Thursday.

Ravi Agrawal, editor in chief of Foreign Policy Magazine, told MS NOW that Trump's decision followed Saudi Arabia's move to suspend the U.S. military's ability to use its bases and airspaces for the ongoing military operation. The key Gulf ally's decision was a response to "Project Freedom," which Trump announced on his Truth Social platform over the weekend — without discussion among the regional allies.

The backlash has had real ramifications, Agrawal argued.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2676865620/